I don't get to go school shopping this year

I won't be going either...but that is because I have decided to homeschool my children! We have so many supplies leftover from public school that we don't need anything...plus their school work is almost all computer driven.

Our public school gave a choice of the packet or buying our own...I didn't like the packet because I know (was told by someone who did it) they were making a ton of money off it (they bought at end of season the year before) and not giving us a choice of items. It was cheaper to watch for sales and also allow my children to pick their supplies so they didn't look like all the others. Plus they always put more supplies in it than the kids used...I'd rather buy as they need it. We've got tons of notecards leftover and spiral notebooks that weren't used.

I think you should let them know you prefer to buy your own...maybe if enough speak up they will change it for next year. I'm guessing you can still take your kids to find their own favorite back pack?
 
I was psyched to go school supply shopping until I saw the lists for the boys. JP's list won't be an issue, we'll just get what he needs and be done with it. Devin's list, OTOH, man...he's going to pitch a fit. Even with a list to show him, he will NOT be happy about having to get red, green & blue folders/notebooks. He HATES those colors, and his rather rigid Aspie personality wants what it wants. :unsure: His list is so specific that it even requests velcro sneakers for ALL kindergartners. Devin's afraid of the noise velcro makes. Sigh...
 
It's bittersweet for me...I actually don't enjoy trying to find all the things on the list, so I'd rather just write out a check.

BUT, I LOVE office supply stores as much as I love scrapbook stores. YUM!!! So, I enjoy stocking up on the supplies for homework and projects at our house!
 
We don't get to go school clothes shopping really...my kids have a uniform (cam can wear regular clothes to prek though woot!)

I love school supply shopping though lol
 
I always loved school supply shopping as a kid and I still love shopping for anything like that. My niece and nephew's school does this, though, and I have to say it is nice to have it all taken care of. I think everyone likes doing this kind of shopping, but there's plenty of other back to school shopping that needs doing, so this makes one less thing for the parents to worry about.
 
My kids aren't old enough for me to worry about this yet, but I hate the controlling, uberestrictive attitude that so many schools have taken. Talk about squelching independent thought! Why can't a kid have a pink folder instead of a red one? And why can't a kid wear slip-on or buckled shoes instead of velcro ones? And why does everyone need 2 twistable crayons?

And don't even get me started about everyone who says that schools provide their supplies for free. Because, as we all know, they come from magic if the government provides them. People conveniently forget about a thing called "taxes," especially if they're hidden.

Sorry...as an economist by training, this is really something that gets under my skin.
 
this is my first year having to actually go out and buy their supplies. Normally our parents advisory does the bulk shopping and we purchase from them.
And it really sucks, cause I have one in high school come September, one in grade 4, and one in grade 1! Clothes, backpacks/lunch kits AND all their stationery needs. UGH!!!
 
cheltzey said:
My kids aren't old enough for me to worry about this yet, but I hate the controlling, uberestrictive attitude that so many schools have taken. Talk about squelching independent thought! Why can't a kid have a pink folder instead of a red one? And why can't a kid wear slip-on or buckled shoes instead of velcro ones? And why does everyone need 2 twistable crayons?
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That's my thought, too. I understand certain restrictions, like saying they need a solid color instead of popular characters. And I'm all for giving a list that tells you to buy 48 crayons instead of 120, or whatever. But the degree of control some of the schools are insisting on is insane. What if you've already bought shoes and they aren't Velcro? Or if there's a good reason not to buy them, like the child mentioned earlier who's bothered by Velcro? (And BTW--in that case I'd be calling the school to discuss it and get permission to ignore that requirement.) The requirement should be that every child has shoes they can get on and off independently, not that they be Velcro! I've got another year to go before DS starts K, but if this is what it's going to be like I'm dreading it. I suppose I should be glad I've been warned ahead of time!
 
[michele] said:
The lists are soooo specific, it's actually just easier for me to buy the box of supplies and be done with it.

Teachers always need supplies - pencils, sanitizing wipes, etc. - maybe you could buy some stuff and give it to the teacher?

:) Michele
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LOVE that idea...i need me a good stapler..too bad that i am not your kids' teacher!

you can still shop...why don't you go and pick up some "at home" school supplies for homework and projects..that might be fun..and then you can get some quarantined/banned SparkLy and SHINY folders and pencils to use...you know..get the fun stuff that all teacher's ban in the classroom for HOME! Have them decorate a fun box to put all the supplies in...could be fuN!

my kindergarten teacher does that..she buys everything..very picky.but LOVE her..i would LOVE to just get all the supplies for our class too *preschool 3 year old program* but i fear that the kids are already skitzed out enough about school...at least their parents get to "buy" them something to kinda ease their fears...

xoxo.ash
 
You know, I wonder...how much of this has to do with jealousy issues? You know how they've taken the competitiveness out of sports in the younger grades (everyone wins)...so now nobody knows how to deal with competitiveness. Now they make everyone have exactly the same things in school...now the kids aren't going to know how to deal with those issues. It's NOT preparing our kids for anything, it's just making them worse!

I can see how it stands from the point of view of families who can't go out and get supplies - not everyone has that ability financially, and that's understandable. But, if it's about making all the kids identical and conforming, and not being unique because someone might get upset/jealous/whatever...that's just ridiculous, kwim.

Yes, in school...my parents didn't have money. They had 5 kids to raise, and my dad was self-employed. Many years we reused pencil crayons, binders, notepaper (whatever was left over from the previous year was put into new binders for the next year)...my mom made us fabric lunchbags that we used for anywhere from 6-9 years of school (6 years for me, 9 for my brother)...we only got new backpacks when ours wore out, which was only every 3-4 years. Did we ever have the coolest stuff in the class? No. Were we jealous of the kids who hate the NoteTote binders and Crayola crayons/markers and cool pencil cases? You betcha. But, at least we learned to deal with those emotions and now that we're older, we can understand where our parents were coming from, not buying into all that crap.

Err...sorry. Rant over, lmao!
 
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You know, I wonder...how much of this has to do with jealousy issues? You know how they've taken the competitiveness out of sports in the younger grades (everyone wins)...so now nobody knows how to deal with competitiveness. Now they make everyone have exactly the same things in school...now the kids aren't going to know how to deal with those issues. It's NOT preparing our kids for anything, it's just making them worse!
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Bree, I TOTALLY agree with you. The school's role is NOT to make everyone the same. I really feel that the public school system is trying to take over the job of parents. I should be able to teach my child how to deal with jealousy and how we, as a family, set priorities for our money. The school is taking away those valuable teaching opportunities by trying to play "Big Mother"--and doing a terrible job at it.
 
I love school supply shopping! In fact Walmart has everything for so darn cheap right now that I've already purchased almost everything on their lists plus extra to have at home and to send later on should they run out! The only thing we really have left to get is backpacks for both girls and a lunch bag for Kaylie, and a few new outfits of course!
 
I can see how it stands from the point of view of families who can't go out and get supplies - not everyone has that ability financially, and that's understandable. But, if it's about making all the kids identical and conforming, and not being unique because someone might get upset/jealous/whatever...that's just ridiculous, kwim.
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I know Bree - Every year I've ALWAYS donated extra supplies because they had always put at the bottom of the list to do that if you could to help out those who didn't bring supplies. I donated the exact same things I bought my daughter and I know for a fact MANY parents did the same thing.....AND they would say specific colors and brands to buy so everyone had basically the same thing. On top of that, they always "pooled" the supplies, they told you not to write names on any supplies because it all went into a pile that was redistributed later. So, at her school at least, there was no "she's got a cooler folder than me", etc... going on because they all had the same. AND...they have to wear uniforms too and the uniforms are VERY specific....two color choices of pants/shorts/skorts: Navy or Khaki and two color choices of polo shirts: Blue or Gold (UGLY)!!! They can ONLY wear tennis shoes (and my neighbor who is on the parent advisory committee for the school said they are getting ready to crack down on what "type" of tennis shoes the kids can wear too). Yes, this is a public school.

Now.....I can see both sides of the issue regarding uniforms (even though I'd rather NOT have them - I can still see the reasoning in a broad sense), but this IS getting ridiculous! At this point there is no choice left for anything.....well at least she can still bring her lunch to school....wonder if they'll demand we buy school lunch next.
 
cheltzey said:
Bree, I TOTALLY agree with you. The school's role is NOT to make everyone the same. Snip 8<...
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You will love this one! Our elementary school does NOT believe in individuality when it comes to art. When my middle child was in 6th grade (couple years ago) I was called in by his teacher to look at her wall of paintings...she was just beside herself...in art the WHOLE CLASS painted these stick trees (no leaves) and every single one of them used the SAME COLORS of paint...they were all just copycats of each other...well my son used different colors in his painting!! When she asked him why when the INSTRUCTIONS were to use purple and he used orange...he told her "well my painting was painted at a different time of day and the shadows were a different color". My husband and I just looked at her and said "well that makes perfect sense...so what's the problem?" We stood beside him in his decision.

You walk the hallways of the school...every single art project is the same...same color...same shape...nothing to show a child has any creativity. What a shame.

My kids were lucky...they grew up with a mother that was a Craft Editor and taught them that originality is what it is all about...and they stick to their principles...they still do the "technique" but they add their uniqueness to the project.
 
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